Page 37 of Any Given Lifetime
Neil let out a soft moan of pain.
“So, how did it go?”
“I’m calling you,” Neil whispered.
“Not well, then.”
“I need to get out of here.”
“Come home.”
Neil laughed, and it sounded bitter. “I’m stuck.”
She made a strange sound. “You haven’t been arrested, have you?”
Neil tugged at his hair and said, “No, but I can’t get a cab or a car up here. It’s the middle of nowhere Kentucky.”
“Neil, do you need me to come get you? I can be there in, I don’t know—how long does it take to get to Scottsville?”
“By car? Too long. By plane? Still too long. I think I’m going to lose my mind.”
Neil looked up then. A tall, thin man with long, brown hair was walking toward him on the sidewalk from the offices of the resort. He wasn’t looking where he was going, his head down as he pawed around in a giant purse that seemed, as far as Neil could tell from the items he kept pulling out and dropping back, to contain the entirety of a beauty-supply store. A young, butch man dogged his heels, dressed like a stereotypical farmer, and talking a mile a minute.
That’s when Neil knew, and he couldn’t look away.
“You’re going to hold it together, baby. I promise,” Alice said fiercely.
“I have to go,” Neil said, disconnecting the call.
“Declyn, honey, you’re a grown man,” Chris said as he paused by the bench where Neil was still sitting to paw through his purse some more. “As much as I want to jump in and save you, you’re going to have to figure this one out by yourself.”
“I know, but it’s just…” The boy groaned and stuck his hand in his jeans pocket. “Wait, that’s Nadia calling now. Stay here, okay? Don’t go anywhere.” He took the call and ducked around the corner of the building, obviously wanting some privacy.
Chris sighed, rolled his eyes, and then looked down at Neil. He was older than the last time Neil had seen a photo of him on Lee’s social media, but he didn’t look that different. Like Joshua, he’d obviously been able to afford the anti-aging nanite creams, because he was still bright to look at.
Once upon a time, in that other life, Chris had been Neil’s friend. One of his only friends.
Neil jerked his gaze away, but it was too late.
Chris plopped down onto the bench beside him and said, “You look lost, sugar tits.”
Neil snorted softly, lifted one shoulder, and let it fall.
Chris started up with his bag again, saying, “Argh,finally,” and brought out a tinted lip balm. He took the lid off, looked at the color, and began to apply it.
Neil didn’t mean to talk to him. He meant to stand up and walk away. Instead, he said, “That’s not a good look on anyone.”
“Gee, thanks, lost stranger, for your input on my lip color.” Chris rolled his eyes. “Are you homophobic, too? Because we ain’t got time for that around here, as my husband says.”
“No. I don’t care about your lipstick. Or the gay thing. I meant me. Looking lost. It’s generally not a good look on—”
“Anyone. Got it,” Chris said. He narrowed his eyes. “You know, it’s kind of uncanny how much you look like this guy I knew once.” He reached out and took hold of Neil’s jaw. Neil flinched back from the touch instinctively.
Chris rolled his eyes. “Let me look at you. Hmm, yes, I see that you’re lost, and you’re in need of some advice.” He grinned and let go of Neil’s chin. “Lucky for you, I know everything there is to know about this town, and I’m excellent at dishing up fantastic and unwanted advice. Just ask my son.” He looked toward the corner that Declyn had ducked around. “If he ever gets off the phone with that girl. I swear, is it always like this? Do kids always take up with the absolute worst person for them? Of course, my parents love Dale. It’s me they hate.”
Neil stared at him. Chris was the same. Exactly the same. Talking to anyone like he had a right to, and being unfailingly cheerful even when he was being a bitch. And Chris had remembered him—well, the old him. And he seemed pleased to see the resemblance.
Neil felt like he’d stepped into some kind of strange time-transport device where the people he knew and loved best were older, and he alone was younger. His phone buzzed. He knew it was Alice calling back. He hadn’t been very clear when he ended his call. She probably thought he’d been accosted or something. Again, at the rate that his life was going downhill, it was only a matter of time.
